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Coolbaugh among Rangers' Minors coaches

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By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have rehired Scott Coolbaugh to be their hitting coach at Triple-A Round Rock. Coolbaugh was Texas' hitting coach from June 1, 2011, through this past season before being replaced by Dave Magadan.

Coolbaugh was replaced, even though the Rangers led the Major Leagues with 808 runs scored. Coolbaugh was the Round Rock hitting coach from 2009-11 before being promoted to the big leagues to replace Thad Bosley.

The Rangers are going without a Minor League hitting coordinator in 2013. Those positions were held in 2012 by Randy Ready and Luis Ortiz, but both are not returning in 2013. Instead, the duties will be split by field coordinator Jayce Tingler and special assistant Harry Spillman, with input from both Magadan and Coolbaugh.

Round Rock is also getting a new pitching coach. Brad Holman is being promoted from Class A Myrtle Beach after the Pelicans' pitching staff led the Carolina League in ERA for the past two seasons.

Coolbaugh and Holman will work under Bobby Jones, who is getting ready for his 24th season as a manager in the Rangers farm system. It will be his 12th at Triple-A and his third at Round Rock. Spike Owen returns as the third coach on Jones' staff at Round Rock.

The Rangers have made no changes at Double-A Frisco, as Steve Buechele returns as manager for a fourth straight season. Pitching coach Jeff Andrews and hitting coach Jason Hart are also returning.

Jason Wood returns for his third season as manager at Myrtle Beach. He will be joined by two new coaches. Steve Mintz, who has been with the Twins' organization for 11 seasons, is the new pitching coach, and Josue Perez, who was at Class A Hickory, was named hitting coach.

Corey Ragsdale has been promoted from the Arizona Rookie League Rangers to manage Hickory. He led the Rangers to the Arizona Rookie League title this past season. Hitting coach Justin Mashore is also being promoted from Arizona, while pitching coach Ryan O'Malley is being promoted from Class A Spokane.

Former big leaguer infielder Tim Hulett returns for his seventh season as manager at Spokane, the longest-tenured skipper in Indians history. Pitching coach Oscar Marin has been elevated to Spokane from the Arizona Rangers and Bobby Rose makes his professional coaching debut as the hitting coach for the Indians. Vinny Lopez enters his second season on the Spokane coaching staff.

Kenny Holmberg, who has managed the Rangers team in the Dominican Summer League, will take over the Arizona Rangers, and Brian Shouse returns to the staff as a pitching coach in his second season with the organization.

The Rangers have hired a Minor League outfield coordinator in Joe Mikulik. He joins the Rangers after 13 years as the manager of Class A Asheville in the South Atlantic League. Danny Clark returns as the Minor League pitching coordinator, with Casey Candaele returning as infield/baserunning coordinator and Hector Ortiz as catching instructor. Mark Connor returns as special pitching instructor.